Serum and salivary levels of proinflammatory cytokines as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract EN

Background : oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the prevalent cancers of the body.

If not treated at its early stages, the prognosis will be poor.

Early diagnosis of oral cancer may not be easy clinically because of its resemblance to a number of benign lesions in the mouth.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the validity of measurement of some proinflammatory cytokines levels in serum and saliva as biomarkers for early detection of oral cancer.

Materials and methods : the levels of Interleukins IL-1α, IIL-6, IL-8 and Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) in the serum and saliva of (30) patients with OSCC and (20) healthy (control) individuals were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results : higher concentrations of serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were observed in patients with OSCC than the control group (P < 0.001).

No significant difference was seen in serum IL-1 alpha and GM-CSF between patients with OSCC and control group.

The levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF in saliva showed significant increase in patients with OSCC when compared with control group.

Conclusion : it is concluded that the levels of certain prinflammatory cytokines can be measured in serum and saliva of patients with OSCC and healthy individuals.

Detection of increased levels of these elements can be used as biomarkers for early detection of oral cancer.